Vibrating plow to bury cable and the like

ABSTRACT

When a trench is dug for the purpose of burying cable, pipe, or the like, the digging mechanism includes a blade which is vibrated vertically by means of a power mechanism. This vertical movement of the digging blade tends to impart a vibration to the machine which is towing the trench digger, which results in injury to certain parts of that machine. With this invention a structure is provided which materially reduces the transmitted vibration to the towing machine so that injury to the mechanisms of the towing machine is greatly reduced. Also the depth of the trench which is dug by the digging blade can be adjusted to suit different requirements.

I United States Patent 1 1111 3,727,696 Hansen 5] Apr. 17, 1973 VIBRATING PLOW TO BURY CABLE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS AND TIIE LIKE 1,199,047 7/1970 Great Britain ..37/193 Inventor; O. Ham 372,515 Great Rosecrans, Hawthorne, Calif. 90250 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey [22] plied: 1971 Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder 211 Appl N 103 530 Attorney-Harold A. Dreckman ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl ..172 40, 37 193, 37 DIG. 18 I 1 l I I When a trench is dug'for the purpose of burying cable, [51] Int. Cl. ..E02f 5/18 th rk th h l d 58 Field of Search ..6l/72.6;94/48; Em j; 5 f g i i es 37/010. 6 DIG. 1s 193-172/40 v e c "1 e c y y means P Y mechanism. This vertical movement of the digging blade tends to impart a vibration to the machine [56] References Cited which is towing the trench digger, which results in in- UNITED STATES PATENTS jury to certain of that machine. With this inventron a structure is provided WhlCh materially reduces 1,863,671 6/1932 Pitts et a1 ..61/72.6 the transmitted vibration to the towing machine so 3,327,598 6/ 19 67 Wayer.... ...;.....94/48 that injury to the mechanisms of the towing machine is 3,326,009 6/ 6 g e ..6l/72.6 greatly reduced. Also the depth of the trench which is 3,041,751 7/1962 Chattin ..61/72-6 UX dug the blade can be adjusted to suit Kinnan GI/72.6 ferent requirements 7 3,474,551 10/1969 Pearsom. .....37/DIG. 6 2,782,534 2 1957 7 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures Wall ..37/D1G. 6

PATENTED r 3.727. 696

SHEET 1 OF 2 FIGJ FIG. 2

IN V EN TOR. Rose-2r 0. l/fl/VJEN cave-Y VIBRATING PLOW T BURY CABLE AND THE LIKE An object of my invention is to provide a trench digger which cuts a relatively narrow trench and, consequently, eliminates the requirement to backfill that trench.

Another object of my invention is to provide a trench digger which can be adjusted to different vertical angles; thus more effectively digging a trench in the ground into which a cable or the like can be layed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel vertical motion trench digger in which a vertical vibrating motion is imparted to the digging blade, and where the blade is mounted in a frame which is slidable in vertical guides.

Still another object is to provide a mounting for the frame of the trench digger on pneumatic tires to reduce vibration on parts of the trench digger.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel compactor for the ground in which a trench is dug, the compactor being mounted on a frame in which the vibrating trench digger is mounted.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my trench digger plow mounted on a towing vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the mounting for the trench digger or plow.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of one of the frame members of the vibrating plow.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing the cable mounting on the frame.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of my vibrating plow in operating position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of my vibrating plow illustrating the position of the compactor.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my trenching plow 1 is mounted on a suitable boom or platform 2 which extends from the rear of a pulling tractor, truck or other vehicle 3, which is usual and well known in the art. This motivating means is also disclosed in my copending applications, Ser. No. 832,385, filed June I1, 1969, and Ser. No. 35,036, filed May 6, 1970. This platform or boom 2 extends some distance rearwardly from the pulling vehicle 3 and the entire apparatus moves horizontally as the vehicle moves. A motor 4 is mounted on a platform 5, which is attached to or is a part of the rectangular cutter frame 6. The cutter frame 6 may be formed of channel members, or rods or tubes, as might be most expedient. This frame 6 is an elongated structure including a horizontal plate 7 at its lower end. The platform 5 is fixedly mounted on the vertically movable frame 6 for the purpose of driving the vibrating plow members, as will be subsequently described. The motor 4 drives an eccentric 8 through suitable gearing, which is not shown. The eccentric 8 imparts a vertical vibrating motion to the platform 5 which, in turn, imparts a vertical motion to the vibrating plow 9. The vibrating plow 9 is coupled to the platform 5 by the plate structure 10 and, consequently, can be adjusted vertically to plow into the earth a desired amount.

To properly position the frame 6, and also to adequately mount the same, I provide a pair of vertical guide members 11 which are pivotally attached to the boom 2, as shown at 12, and rise vertically therefrom. The guides 11 are spaced horizontally and are suitably shaped to receive the frame 6 and to permit that frame to move vertically under vibration or for adjustment purposes. Thus the frame 6 vibrates when the eccentric 8 is operated, thus cutting a trench with the blade 9. To reduce vibration which might be imparted to the towing vehicle 3, I provide a plurality of resilient wheels 13 which are journaled in the frame 6 and which protrude from the frame to engage the vertical frame members 11. The wheels 13 can be made of rubber or plastic and are sufficiently yieldable to absorb vibration, particularly that vibration which might be transmitted from the frame 6 to the guide frames 11. When the parts are in plowing position, as shown in FIG. 7, the frames 6 and 11 are supported on rubber tired wheels 14. These rubber tired wheels are mounted on an axle frame 15 which depends from the platform 5.

To raise or lower the frame 6 and the plowing blade 9, I provide a cable 16, one end of which is fixedly attached to the plate 7 and the other end to the platform 5. The cable also passes over a pulley 17 which is mounted on the piston 18 of a hydraulic cylinder 19, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. Thus by operating the hydraulic cylinder 19 the frame 6 can be raised or lowered, together with the plow blade 9 to provide the required penetration.

To adjust the tilt of the mounting frame 1 1 about the pivot 12, I provide hydraulic cylinders 20 which are secured to the boom 2. The pistons 21 of the hydraulic cylinders 20 are attached to the frame 11, and thus by operating the cylinders 20 the frames II can be tilted as required. It has been found in actual use that the plow blade 9 should be positioned at a forward angle, shown in FIG. 7. In this position the plow blade will more effectively cut a trench.

To compact the ground, I provide a shoe 22 which is fixedly attached by the fittings 23 to the bottom of the frame 6. The plow blade 9 is removed during the compacting operation and the frame 6 is vibrated through the motor 4, as previously described; thus imparting a vertical pounding or compacting motion to the shoe 22 to effectively compact the soil.

Having described my invention, I claim:

I. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like comprising, a platform extending from a pulling vehicle, guide means mounted on saidplatform and extending vertically therefrom, a frame slidably mounted in said guide means, a vibrator mounted on said frame, drive means connected to said vibrator, a cutter blade depending from the frame and mounted thereon, and resilient rollers mounted on said frame and engaging the guide means for absorbing vibration which may be transmitted from the frame to the guide means.

2. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim I, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground.

3. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, and a cable extending from the frame to the guide means, and tensioning means attached to the cable.

4. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground, and a cable extending from the frame to the guide means, and tensioning means attached to the cable.

5. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, and means pivotally mounting the guide means on the platform, and power means engaging the guide means to tilt the guide means on the platform.

6. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, means pivotally mounting the guide means on the platform, and power means engaging the guide means to tilt the guide means on the platform, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engagin g the ground in one position.

7. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, means pivotally mounting the guide means on the platform, and power means engaging the guide means to tilt the guide means on the platform, a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground in one position, and a cable extending from the frame to the guide means, and tensioning means attached to the cable. v 

1. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like comprising, a platform extending from a pulling vehicle, guide means mounted on said platform and extending vertically therefrom, a frame slidably mounted in said guide means, a vibrator mounted on said frame, drive means connected to said vibrator, a cutter blade depending from the frame and mounted thereon, and resilient rollers mounted on said frame and engaging the guide means for absorbing vibration which may be transmitted from the frame to the guide means.
 2. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground.
 3. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, and a cable extending from the frame to the guide means, and tensioning means attached to the cable.
 4. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claiM 1, a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground, and a cable extending from the frame to the guide means, and tensioning means attached to the cable.
 5. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, and means pivotally mounting the guide means on the platform, and power means engaging the guide means to tilt the guide means on the platform.
 6. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, means pivotally mounting the guide means on the platform, and power means engaging the guide means to tilt the guide means on the platform, and a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground in one position.
 7. A vibrating plow to bury cable and the like as recited in claim 1, means pivotally mounting the guide means on the platform, and power means engaging the guide means to tilt the guide means on the platform, a pneumatic tire mounted on said frame and engaging the ground in one position, and a cable extending from the frame to the guide means, and tensioning means attached to the cable. 